some of Lord Nityananda's glories

[Paramananda das]

The glories of Lord Nityananda as the incarnation of Lord Balarama, the origin of both the spiritual and material world, are given in the revealed Vedic scriptures as follows:

Vayu Purana



(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;

nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau



In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side as Lord Shri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth."



(2) krtvavadhuta-vesam sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grhinam asramam tatah.



"Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, He will freely distribute bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do so first as a brahmacari and later as a householder."



(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayisyati manavan.



"Accompanied by His eternal consort Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal His transcendental pastimes to the people."



Ananta-Samhita of Atharva Veda



nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;

vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karisyasi.



In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord states to Anantadeva: "When I appear in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga, You will become Nityananda. You will have a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly absorbed in chanting My name and glories. In this way, by Your causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees."



Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Adi 1.7-11



sankarshanah karana-toya-sayi

garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi

seshas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-

nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu



May Shri Nityananda Prabhu be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarshana, Mahavishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu, and Kshirodakshayi Vishnu, as well as Sesha are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions. That same Nityananda Prabhu, is none other than Balarama. (Cc. Adi 1.7)



mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke

purnaisvarye shri-catur-vyuha-madhye

rupam yasyodbhati sankarshanakhyam

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye



I surrender unto the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Saokarshana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation. (Cc. Adi 1.8)



maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangah

sete sakshat karanambhodhi-madhye

yasyaikamsah shri-puman adi-devas

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye



I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Vishnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusha, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes. (Cc. Adi 1.9)



yasyamsamsah shrila-garbhoda-sayi

yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam

loka-srashtuh sutika-dhama dhatus

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye



I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakshayi Vishnu. From the navel of Garbhodakshayi Vishnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. (Cc. Adi 1.10)



yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam

poshta vishnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi

kshauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas

tam shri-nityananda-ramam prapadye



I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Shri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Vishnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Kshirodakashayi Vishnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe. Sesha Naga is His further sub-part. (Cc. Adi 1.11)



Lord Nityananda Baladeva is the Original Sankarshana



5.7

shri-balarama gosani mula-sankarshana

panca-rupa dhari' karena krishnera sevana

apane karena krishna-lilara sahaya

shrishti-lila-karya kare dhari' cari kaya



Lord Balarama is the original Sankarshana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. (Cc. Adi 5.8,9)



Balarama and Nityananda are non Different



5.8

prema-pracarana ara pashanda-dalana

dui-karye avadhuta karena bhramana



For two purposes to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and subdue the atheists Lord Nityananda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country. (Cc. Antya 3.149)



The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu



5.9

jagat mataya nitai premera malasate

palaya durdanta kali padiya vibhrate

ki sukhe bhasila jiva gauracandera nate

dekhiya suniya pashandira buk phate



[All glories to Nityananda Prabhu!] Maddened by ecstatic love of Godhead, he overwhelmed the universe with ecstasy. He slapped his hands together like a warrior who is about to attack, and upon seeing this, the wicked Kali fled in terror, fearing for his life. All souls were drowned in happiness because of the dancing of Shri Gauranga [and Nityananda]. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts even of great atheists. (Gitavali, Nagara-kirtana, 8)



5.10

jaya jaya nityananda, nityananda-rama

yaohara kripate painu vrindavana-dhama

jaya jaya nityananda, jaya kripa-maya

yaoha haite painu rupa-sanatanasraya

yaoha haite painu raghunatha-mahasaya

yaoha haite painu shri-svarupa-asraya

sanatana-kripaya painu bhaktira siddhanta

shri-rupa-kripaya painu bhakti-rasa-pranta

jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda

yaoha haite painu shri-radha-govinda



All glory, all glory to Lord Nityananda Balarama, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vrindavana. All glory, all glory to the merciful Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained shelter of Shri Rupa and Sanatana. By His mercy, I have attained the shelter of the great Shri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and by His mercy I have found the refuge of Shri Svarupa Damodara. By the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami I have learned the final conclusions of devotional service, and by the grace of Shri Rupa Gosvami I have tasted the highest nectar of devotional service. All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Shri Radha-Govinda. (Cc. Adi. 5.200-204)



Nityananda is the Savior of the Most Fallen



5.11

jagai madhai haite muni se papishtha

purishera kita haite muni se laghishtha

mora nama sune yei tara punya kshaya

mora nama laya yei tara papa haya

emana nirghrina more keba kripa kare

eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare

preme matta nityananda kripa-avatara

uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara

ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara

ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara



I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Cc. Adi 5.205-209)



Freedom from Anarthas and the Desire for Bhakti

is Strengthened by the Mercy of Nitai



5.12

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare

ye dubibe se bhajuk nitai-candere



One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda. (Cb. Adi 1.77)



Nityananda is the Foremost Preacher



5.13

caitanyera adi-bhakta nityananda-raya

caitanyera yaso vaise yanhara jihvaya

aharnisa caitanyera katha prabhu kaya

tan're bhajile se caitanye bhakti haya



Lord Chaitanya's first and foremost devotee is Nityananda Raya. The glories of Lord Chaitanya are always on his tongue. Day and night Lord Nityananda speaks only of Lord Chaitanya. Whoever worships Him is a real devotee of Shri Chaitanya. (Cb. Adi 9.217-218)



Nityananda mad About Serving Shri Chaitanya



5.14

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala

caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala



Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Chaitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Chaitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Chaitanya. (Cc. Adi 6.48)



Those who Have no Faith that Gaura and Nitai

are Inseparable are Offenders and Atheists



5.15

dui bhai eka-tanu samana-prakasa

nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa

ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana

"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana



These two brothers (Gaura and Nitai) are like one body; they are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will fall down. If you have faith in one, but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen. (Cc. Adi 5.175,176)



Faith in Gaura Without Nitai, or Nitai Without Gaura,

is Flickering Faith and in Opposition to Pure Devotional Service



5.16

kimva, dooha na manina hao ta' pashanda

eke mani' are na mani, ei-mata bhanda



It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other. (Cc. Adi 5.177)



Thus ends the Fifth Jewel of Gaudiya Kanthahara, entitled Nityananda-tattva compiled by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.

[Paramananda das]

Lord Nityananda's Marketplace of the Holy Name



(Dalaler Gita: "The Song of the Broker" or Khoda Nitai from Vaisnava-Siddhanta-Mala)



by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

_____________________________



(1)



boro sukher khabor gai

surabhi-kunjete namer hat khuleche / khoda nitai



I am singing news of the greatest happiness! In the grove of Navadvipa known as Surabhi Kunja, the Marketplace of the Holy Name has now been opened -- and Lord Nityananda Himself is the Proprietor.



(2)



boro mojar katha tay

sraddha-mulye suddha-nama sei hatete bikay



Such wonderful things are going on in that blissful marketplace! Sri Nityananda Prabhu is selling the pure Holy Name wholesale, merely for the price of one's faith.



(3)



jata bhakta-brnda basi'

adhikari dekhe' nama becche daro kasi'



Seeing the assembly of devotees eagerly waiting to purchase the Name, Lord Nityananda first examines each of them to test their qualification; then He sells them the Name by bargaining for His price accordingly.



(4)



jadi nama kinbe, bhai

amar sange calo, mahajaner kache jai



O my dear friends! If you really want to buy this pure Holy Name, then just come along with me, for I am now going to meet with this Nityananda Mahajana.



(5)



tumi kinbe krsna-nama

dasturi loibo ami, pürna ha'be kama



Thus, you will finally be able to acquire the pure Holy Name. I will also take my due commission, and in this way all three of us will fulfill our desires.



(6)



boro doyal nityananda

sraddha-matra lo'ye den parama-ananda



Sri Nityananda Prabhu is so extraordinarily merciful, accepting only one's faith in the Holy Name, He bestows the topmost divine bliss.



(7)



ek-bar dekhle cakse jal

'gaura' bole' nitai den sakala sambal



When Nitai sees a tear welling in someone's eye upon chanting the name of Gaura, He instantly gives His support to that person; indeed, He bestows all divine opulences.



(8)



den suddha krsna-siksa

jati, dhana, vidya, bala na kore apeksa



He gives that person genuine realization of the pure teachings of Sri Krishna as found in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. While displaying all this inconceivable mercy, He pays no attention to one's caste, material wealth, mundane knowledge, or physical ability.



(9)



amani chade maya-jal

grhe thako, bane thako, na thake janjal



Now, dear friends, please reject all of maya's entangling snares. If you are a householder, then just remain at your home; if you are renounced, then just live in the forest. Either way, nothing more will trouble you.



(10)



ar naiko kalir bhoy

acandale den nama nitai doyamoy



We no longer need to fear the terrible Age of Quarrel, for the most merciful Lord Nityananda gives the Holy Name to anyone and everyone -- even to the lowest among men.



(11)



bhaktivinoda daki' koy

nitai-carana bina ar nahi asroy



Bhaktivinoda loudly calls out and proclaims to all: "OTHER THAN THE LOTUS FEET OF LORD NITYANANDA, THERE IS NO SHELTER!"

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